Chapter Two! Thanks again xbluephantomx.
"Lottie!" cried James as I entered our stark white classroom. James was a couple inches taller than me with dark brown hair that spiked in every direction. His face was free of any imperfections other than two dimples that appeared in his cheeks when he smiled. His recruitment glasses also framed his greenish eyes, but not in a nerdy way. They actually look quite good on him. Apparently he and the other recruiting reapers had arrived earlier and were already positioned in their respective lines, chatting with friends nearby.
"Hey James." I replied with a quick smile as I walked into the room. James rushed up to meet me and encased me with a quick hug before letting go.
"Are you ready? I heard the final exam is harder than last year's so we have to be extra prepared!" James said before launching into a very detailed and exuberant explanation of his evening preparations for this morning. He always has so much energy that it's overwhelming and exhausting sometimes. Instead I zoned out a bit and surveyed the room.
A white board stood at the head of the classroom with bright florescent lights illuminating the room. An eye chart was mounted on the far wall and a few desks lining the back. Large glass windows framed the back wall, showing a beautiful view from the sixth story of the reaper Corporations head building.
This was the first time any of us had been allowed to enter the main building; Recruits such as ourselves were assembled and taught in much smaller compounds further away. But since we were about to join the real rankings, we were invited to come here.
Then I spotted Henry, the cutest boy in my division whom I have had a crush on for years, standing with a couple friends. His friends were wildly gesturing and motioning, telling another of their "epic" stories I presumed, but I couldn't look at anyone but him.
His almost white-blonde hair hung on his head, gently draping over his eyes and along his neck. It glistened and shone in the lights, making him look more like and Angel than a Reaper. His thin brows perfectly framed his reaper eyes which were thousands of light years deep. His lips curved in an effortless look of calm happiness, making me immediately start blushing. But the best thing was his smile. When his friend suddenly tripped over his own feet, his lips broke out into a perfectly straight smile that melted my heart right out of my chest. It took all I had in me to not keel over right there. If only I could say more than "Goodmorning" or "Excuse me" when we passed.
I first developed my crush for him the second week of training many years ago. We were partnered for physical combat class and I stunk. Like... REALLY stunk. Naturally Henry was perfect at everything, and the teacher paired him with me. I tripped and crashed into him more times than I could count, but he was always patient with me. His warm hands repositioned my clumsy ones, his strong legs lifted my weak ones. I barely said more than "yes" and "no" during those three days, but that didn't stop my heart from giving a little squeeze every time.
"And that's when a giant wallaby came out and ate my mother. Luckily the ninja was quick enough to bring him down before anyone else was hurt." James said with a small smile on his face.
"Wait... WHAT?" I shouted as I came back to reality. My eyes practically popped out of my head and my mouth dropped to the floor. Wallabies? Ninjas? What the heck?
"You weren't listening," taunted James while shaking a finger at me. "I had to say something to get you to notice. For the past two minutes I have been saying all kinds of ludicrous nonsense and I got no response till now."
I flushed a bright red color and bowed my head in shame. I was never careless enough to get caught before so this was insanely degrading.
"Sorry James. I'm just tired from waking up at 5:30 this morning."
"5:30! What were you doing up so early?"
We both looked at each other and said, "Will" in unison before groaning.
"Gosh that guy…" James said while running his fingers through his hair. "I admire his dedication but enforcing his schedule onto you is too much. I know you are one of the few girl reapers but still…" James had always understood my predicament and never ceased to amaze me with support and understanding. His concern was never interlaced with pity
"No, it's alright." I replied with a softer tone. "If I'm going to make it to the top division in reaping I need all the advice and experience I can get. And besides, Will said rising early allows for more time to plan for the day ahead." I smiled and pumped my fists into the air in an attempt to raise my excitement."I will do anything to be as strong and dedicated as Will. And if that means I get less sleep, then so be it!"
James split one of his huge grins and pumped his fist into the air next to me chanting, "Lottie Lottie!" until we both burst into laughter. The others turned to stare at us for a moment before shrugging their shoulders and returning to their conversations.
"Quiet down everyone. This is no time for fun and games." A familiar voice commanded as footsteps echoed across the room. Immediately everyone snapped into attention and James and I raced back to our spots.
"Now is everybody here? Good. I am going to be your instructor today. My name is William T. Spears and I am a part of the Recruitment Management and Collection Division. Welcome to reaping." Will slowly walked to the front of the room, clip board and pencil in hand. He eyed each and every person, keeping his cool and collected nature even when he met my eyes.
"Now most of you already know, but reaping is not to be taken lightly. Whether you work in Management or on the field, you will be responsible for a human's soul. There will be death and blood constantly around you, and many Reapers have snapped under the circumstances." Will spoke to the class but I could feel him directing his words onto me.
"But you wouldn't have made it this far without knowing and accepting those terms. Now, onto our main schedule. Today I will give you a tour of the facilities, including a basic introduction to possible careers and finally instructions for your final exam."
The tension in the atmosphere immediately heightened with the mention of the final exam. People turned to their neighbor and whispered excitedly while others gestured their worries.
"Settle down students. Now I am open for questions along the tour and afterwards until 5:30 because my shift ends at 6:00 sharp." He gestured to the door and three more Reapers entered with clip boards and pens as well.
"I will be breaking you up into four teams for the tour and then we shall reconvene in the Main Conference Room for the final exam. Now, those with last names A-G please follow Charles."
A Reaper with light hair waved and smiled at us, then gestured for those to follow him out the door.
"Next those with H-L follow Bernard." A couple more students followed a dark haired man.
"Now N-R follow Clyde." James walked forward and saw his reaper was a very short man, only 4 feet tall, but with the expression of a demon. James turned to look at me, flashing a tormented face before scampering after his exiting group.
"And finally S- " However Will was interrupted by a loud wail from the door
"But Will! Where's my group!" Grell cried out while acting like a lost child.
I was embarrassed for Will by his previous partner's actions, and kept my head down to hide my light pink face. Ah, Grell; Will always complains about him after work, insisting that he was nothing more than a nuisance. Even though I agreed with him, I adored his fashion sense, especially in his spectacles. Those were exactly what I hope to make. Not the same ones, but the style. How they are matched to his personality rather than just boring colors like red and blue.
"You said I could come with you today on the tour for the younglings!" Grell pouted while clinging onto Will's arm. A vein pulsed on Will's forehead as he calmly detached himself and lectured his companion.
"Now Grell, didn't you say children weren't your thing? I assumed you would give me some peace and quiet today." Will's pushed up his glasses and scribbled something onto the clipboard. "Besides, you would only be a paid to have around."
"But Will!" cried Grell, falling to the ground melodramatically, "How can I ever be apart from you, especially on today of all days! It reminds me of when we first met and encountered loves first sparks!"
Will replied with a kick to his head and fluidly stepped over his damaged body.
"This way children. Pay no attention to that thing over there. He's just a nobody." We all followed quietly, peeking at Grell laying on the floor in a daze.
We followed Will down the main corridor, branching off into other similar corridors until we were all completely lost within the maze. Will, however, knew exactly where he was going and continued onward. He stopped the group at various destinations and gave a small blurb on each. For example:
"This is where the Higher-Ups give and create the death list." He would declare while gesturing to many small doors with continual traffic both in and out.
"This is General Affairs, which rents out the Reaping equipment." Many reapers were standing in line at multiple glass offices, handing in paperwork in exchange for their death sythes.
"And finally, our Spectacle Room." Will held the door open for all my group members to enter before himself.
Shelves among shelves were lined with glasses, ranging from simple square frames to delicately curved and colorful ones. I walked among the rows, marveling after each shelf that contained more glasses than I had ever seen before in my life. I spotted a couple reapers cleaning and shaping new glasses on the far wall and could barely contain myself from pushing one out of the way and doing his job. This was my home; this is where I belonged. I could feel each pair of glasses calling me, begging me to try them on, and designs for thousands of new pairs formed in my mind.
I started to walk back to the group when a particular pair of glasses caught my eyes. On my left sat one beautiful pair of deep sea green spectacles. But when I got closer, I realized it was not just green, but flecks of gold mixed in as well, that glinted in the lights at just the right angle. The thick frames curved in a beautiful rounded rectangle while the sides were completely clear, giving the illusion of them magically floating on ones face.
I must try them on. I must. There was no question that these were made for me. I could feel it all the way from my head to my toes that if I put them on, I would see a beautiful, strong and responsible woman reaper that deserved to be here. She would be independent, yet necessary for the whole organization to function. She would have confidence, but be polite to everyone. She would be perfect.
I reached out to touch them.
-Thwack-
I jerked my hand back in surprise and turned to see the Department Head, Lawrence Anderson, frowning down at me after swatting my hand.
"Young lady, it is both impolite and improper for a reaper to wear glasses that were not earned." He said while bunching up his eyebrows.
I bowed my head and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry sir. My mistake."
"Most certainly it is." He scolded, only deepening my embarrassment. "However, I will give you credit for your taste in spectacles." He gently picked up the glasses and unfolded them, inspecting the hinges and bridge.
"This was one of my favorites to make. I had the idea a couple months back, but failed to capture its essence until many tries later." He set them back on the stand and turned to face me once again. "Getting the flecks of gold to float in the material was difficult enough, but the polish and assembly was really a bother." He rubbed his eyes in memory of many nights spent in vain
"Nevertheless, you too will earn your own spectacles when you deserve it, if you ever do. Women can't handle the pain that comes with Reaping." He stated before walking back to his grinder and starting on another pair.
That man! How dare he! I know I'm one of the few women Reapers, but that doesn't mean I'm incompetent and unworthy of being a real Reaper. Women are just as capable as men!
I continued to fume quietly in my corner until Will came over and put his hand on my shoulder.
"Come. We are leaving."
I shuffled along behind him with my pouty face, but when Mr. Anderson paused I jerked myself upright and switched on my "I'm-a-queen-and-you-are-nothing" face.
We left the room with a small click as the door shut.
"Now, to the Main Conference Room." Will stated before heading back down the hallway.
However, my head was still back in the Spectacle Room. I would show him. I would prove my worth! I knew the danger and darkness I was walking into, I just planned on getting past it quickly. I would take my subject's soul, pass with flying colors, and then retire to the spectacle room with my designs. Just me, the lenses and no violence.
At least, that is what I hope...
Ha, sorry Lottie. There is a lot more in store for you. Stay tuned! R&R!